She Sits Quietly By the Sea

Hello! Sharing a card with you that I created for the current challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is "Good to be Green."  How we interpret the theme is up to us.  I thought briefly about upcycling something, but in the end, as green is my favorite color chose instead to create a card in green tones.  I worked with a stencil and clip art image from Red Lead.  The stencil was inked with Mowed Lawn Distress Ink, matted and layered to the card base.  The bling, metal fish, and wood word disk are all by Red Lead.  A simple, and refreshing card, I think.   I am also entering this at Frilly and Funkie where the challenge is "Summertime!" Thanks for stopping by.  Yvonne

Why A Bird Sings...

Greetings!  I am still traveling about with my duffle bag of craft goodies and wanted to share with you this card I made for the current challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is "Anything Goes."  Probably one of my favorite techniques to try is pressing Distress Ink pads onto a Craft Mat, spritzing with water, and pressing card stock into the inky juice.  I used Mowed Lawn and Wild Honey here.  The bird collage and sentiment are from Red Lead.  The grungy border on the left is by Tim Holtz and was also distressed with Vintage Photo and Mowed Lawn Distress ink.  Have I mentioned that green is my favorite color before?!  My embellishments are limited in my bag, but I managed to find this snippet of white burlap that was just large enough to mat the sentiment.  Some black liquid pearls and some green seam binding sent with my most recent order at Red Lead complete my card.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Inspiration and Good News!

Greetings!  A huge welcome to all of my new followers!  Sharing today a card I made for the challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  The challenge is to create a project "Inspired By" someone or something, the inspiration is ours to decide.  I am inspired EVERYDAY by a number of Artists that I follow online.  To pick one would be difficult for me!  When I sat and pondered the challenge theme, I decided to go in another direction with one of my favorite, and first discovered, stamp companies, Artistic Outpost.  From the moment I stumbled onto their stamp images I was smitten.  They pulled me in, help define my "style" through the use of their images and really helped me grow as an artist.  For this challenge, I decided to create a card with images I recently acquired by AO.  I love the rich details, the vintage-like, historical essence they portray.  I thought I was going to go with a lot of color when I first sat down to make this, but in the end, the images were so gorgeous on their own, I decided to stay more neutral.  I may give my original design a go another day, though!  I also wanted to share with you that I was recently selected to join the Design Team over at Eclectic Ellapu!  I discovered this challenge site earlier this year and have enjoyed a number of their challenge offerings.  I was delighted when I saw the call to join the DT and elated when I was selected.  I'll be back in a few weeks with my first piece for Eclectic Ellapu.  Thanks so much for dropping by today.  Yvonne

Sail Away

Greetings! A bit behind with my posts, so I hope you will forgive me for a second one this evening.  I wanted to join the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is Passport to Fun and we are to create a Travel themed.  My husband is celebrating his birthday later this week, so I decided to create a card for the challenge that would also work for wishing him a Happy Birthday.  He is a sailor so my mind went to this gorgeous set of images by Crafty Individuals.  The clip art is by CI as well. The various images were stamped with Faded Jeans and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.  The card was grunged up with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and splattered, carefully, with water drops.  In retrospect, I should have distressed my card first but, sometimes, you change your mind midstream!  Mini gears by Idea-ology and burlap string purchased at the Funkie Junkie Boutique complete my card.  I will also be submitting my card to the Sunday Share at Frilly and Funkie.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, Yvonne

Please Stay

I love this image by Queen's Dresser Drawers.  It is entitled "Empty Chair."  I chose to use it for the current challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is " Color."  We are to create a project using our own chosen medium to Add color.  I began with white card stock.  ( I recently gave away nearly every piece of background paper that I owned in order to move to customized backgrounds.)  Though not as brilliant as perhaps some of the other entries for this challenge, I am always amazed that a few smooshes of Rusty Hinge and Bundled Sage Distress Paint and Peeled Paint Distress Ink and some sprinkles of water can create such a lovely, soft, colorful backdrop.  The chair image was also stamped with Rusty Hinge Distress Paint for a pop of color.  The word "stay" was created with the Secretary Pool Plate by Artistic Outpost.  Tissue tape and some paper string by Idea-ology and some vintage buttons complete my card. Thanks so much for dropping by.  Yvonne 

Happy Mother's Day

My heart is heavy as I watch the events unfold at the Boston Marathon as I create this post. This card is for a challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the challenge is to use a Background stamp in some way on your project.  

I began by wrapping white lace in layers around my card base.  My new favorite past time of painting doilies with Distress Paints came next.  The center matting was created by repeatedly stamping a complimentary background stamp in Dusty Concord Distress Ink that I received from Crafty Individuals where I ordered some other images.  Layered over top, there is a focal image by Gecko Galz.  Several butterflies by Cavellini were stamped with more Dusty Concord DI and then embellished with Milled Lavender Distress Stickles and added to the card front.  Liquid Pearls, a vintage seam binding bow and button complete my card.  Thanks so much for stopping by. Our thoughts and prayers are with those in Boston.  Yvonne

Par Avion

There's a new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  This week, the challenge is to create a project around the word "Fly."  How we interpret that is up to us.  Lots of ways to go, but I immediately was drawn to some fabulous Artistic Outpost stamps in my stash.  I began by spraying London Blue and Sunshine Yellow Dylusions Ink Sprays onto my card base.  The AO images were stamped on scrap card stock and added to the card base.  Sentiments, also by AO were added directly to the card base.  Tissue tape by Tim Holtz was also added.  (I could not resist adding the butterfly tissue tape given the challenge theme!)  A few black Liquid Pearls and my card was complete.  I chose not to add additional elements, which is hard for me, but seemed right.  Thanks so much for dropping by.  My dear husband has been in the hospital for nearly a week.  It has been quite a roller coaster ride, but I am hopeful he will return home tomorrow.  I trust you and yours are having a great week.  Fondly, Yvonne

With Fond and Loving Memories

Every once in a great while, an image will just strike you and bring back fond and loving memories.  Recently, I downloaded a sheet of images from Gecko Galz called M is for Mother.  I immediately was drawn to this gorgeous retro image of a mother and her two small children.  Instantly, I was back in the late 50s.  My beautiful mother was a brunette, rather than a blond, but also wore her hair upswept, and had this exact dress. The children in the image also reminds me of a photo of my oldest brother and me.  The photo was taken when I was four and my brother, Steve, was three.  I still remember when it was taken.  Back then, photographers came to your home.  Hence I thought the quote I included seem appropriate.  It is one of the first quote stamps I ever purchased, and one I reach for time and again, over the years.

I am entering this at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the challenge is "Quotable" and we are to create a project with a quote.  A few notes on the composition of my card.  The background was made with my newly acquired Distress Paints.  I love the softness of Frayed Burlap and Spun Sugar and how it coordinated with the focal image.  I wrestled with the paper doily as this is more of a retro card than vintage, but then I remembered my mom would buy paper doilies to hang over the shelf of her china closet, so I decided it was just fine.  The vintage buttons and snippet of seam binding fashioned into a bow complete my card.  Thank you so much for dropping by.  Wishing everyone fond and loving memories this Easter. Yvonne

Surf's Up!

Another last minute post for the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  The theme this week is "Water."  The background was made with Dylusions Ink Sprays.  The focal images are from Gecko Galz and the seagulls are from Crafty Individuals.  I have a cousin who spent nearly her whole life in Hawaii.  I think I will send this card to her along with her Easter card so that she can send it out to someone she cares about.  She continues to be an avid letter writer to this day.  Aloha friends, Yvonne

Ever After!

Hello!  It has been a bit of crazy week with some family medical issues but I want to drop by tonight with a few posts.  This one is for the current challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show called Ever After.  I recently received a new set of stamps by Stampsmith with images and sentiments from The Wizard of Oz and thought they might work for the challenge.  I created grass, flowers and sky line with oil pastels.  The yellow brick road was embossed with a Tim Holtz embossing folder.  The images were stamped on glossy paper and partially tinted with Distress Markers, except for the shoes, which were colored with dark red glitter ink of a Sakura Pen.  Thanks for dropping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Baby, You're A Star!

There's a new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show and the theme is Stars!  Lucky me, as I just purchased this gorgeous stamp set from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  It is an Artistic Outpost plate entitled Picture Star.  I was in the mood to work with my water soluble Oil Pastels again, so I began by using them to create this colorful background.  Various images from the Picture Star plate were stamped with Black StazOn Ink onto the colored background.  I decided not to color in the baby as I thought it just looked so retro in black and white.  Love this new stamp set!  Also entering this over at the PanPastels UK Blog Challenge.  Thanks for stopping by.  Yvonne

Happy Valentine's Day Sweetie Pie

There's a bit of a change over at 365 Cards on Wednesdays!  We will be challenged to create cards based on a specific word.  For this first challenge, the word is "Sweet."  My first thought was candy or ice cream, but in the end, I decided to create a card with a sweet baby on it.  The focal image is from Gecko Galz.  The sentiment is Studio G.  This card is also for the newest challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the challenge is to create a project that reveals :"What You Are Known For."  This was a very soul searching challenge for me.  I have gone through many, many styles in my lifetime.  I have always had a deep appreciation and love for things vintage, and I love early modernism.  I love color but I love monochromatic too.  I love lace, ribbon, buttons and all embellishments.  The card above truly reflects me!  Thanks for stopping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Falling Leaves

Hello everyone! (A second post for the day.) This post is for a challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show, where the theme this week is Leaves.  I worked with three different stamps to create my card.  The leaf panel in the background started as white card stock. It was sprayed with Dylusions Spray Inks in red, yellow and orange inks.  The falling leaves stamp by Northwood Rubber Company was stamped over the prepared panel, trimmed and mounted to the card base.  The sentiment by The Stamp Pad Company was inked with Persimmon Distress Ink and distressed with Vintage Photo and Persimmon Distress Inks.  The young lady, one of my all time favorites, by Rubber Stampede, seemed to fit well with the sentiment.  She is stamped with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and mounted to brown and copper metallic paper and layered over a distressed doily on the card base.  Embellishments include bronze lace, photo corners, copper liquid pearls, a vintage button, burlap string from the Funkie Junkie Boutique and paper leaves.  Thanks for stopping by.  I'm also submitting my card to Sunday Share at the Frillie and Funkie Blog.Your comments and visits continue to encourage me.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Hello!  I want to share another card that I made for the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is Hey Girl!  I selected this image by Art Declassified, stamped in Wild Honey Distress Ink on Specialty Paper and mounted it to a torn edge, crumpled and flattened mulberry colored background paper.  The matted image was added to a mulberry card base and honey colored background paper.  The sentiment, by Stampsmith, was stamped with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink and fits the challenge perfectly as little girls grown bigger everyday! Simple embellishments include a gift of hand dyed lace from The Funkie Junkie Boutique, Butterscotch Liquid Pearls, vintage buttons and seam binding and a die cut vine using upcycled craft paper that was mottled with Picket Fence Distress Stain.  Thank you so much for stopping by.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Butterfly Friendship

Hello!  This is my second post for today.  My card is for the Anything Goes Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  I began my card around a scrap of Specialty Paper that I had previously used to sop up leftover Dylusions Ink Spray in several colors.  All stamps used for my card are from Crafty Individuals and Black StazOn Ink was used throughout.  This beautiful butterfly stamp - CI 347   was stamped over top the scrap card stock and matted with yellow card stock.  The paisley stamp - CI 342 was stamped repeatedly on the right hand side of the card base.  The girl - CI 065 was matted with orange and yellow and the sentiment, a complimentary stamp from CI was distressed with Spiced Marmalade DI.  Simple embellishments include vintage pink seam binding, black Liquid Pearls and an applique flower trimmed from lace purchased at CI.  Thanks, as always, for dropping by.  I truly appreciate your continued support.  Yvonne

Dare to Live the Life You Dreamed!

Hello!  Thanks for dropping by today.  My post today is for a challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is the "Depths of Distress."  How we interpret distress is up to us.  I chose to dry emboss a piece of Kraft card stock with numbers from a Sissix embossing folder.  I added Picket Fence Distress Stain to some of the numbers and the entire piece was distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The distressed piece was layered to the left side of a black panel and then adhered to a white card base.  The focal image from the French Flight plate by Artistic Outpost was also distressed with Vintage Photo DI and framed with a distressed Tattered Angels Frame.  The sentiment is from the Kudzu Kafe plate from Artistic Outpost, as well.  Vintage buttons tied with fibers pulled from the strip of burlap beneath them, vintage black seam binding and an Idea-ology tag complete my card.  I am also entering my card at Artistic Outpost's July Referral Program where the current challenge is "Anything Goes."  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I really appreciate your comments, too.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Comforting Butterflies

Hello!  This post is for the current challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  The theme this week is to make a project that "Shows Some Texture."  I decided to create a sympathy card, which I needed, for the challenge.  The distressed doily and cabinet card by Sissix Alterations - Tim Holtz were die cut with white corrugated cardboard purchased from the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  The beautiful butterfly collage is from Crafty Individuals and was colored with my new Distress Markers that have finally arrived!  Texture was layered with a lace panel, embossed background paper scraps, seam binding, burlap string, buttons and a corrugated cardboard butterfly.  Thanks for dropping by.  I really appreciate your comments.  Yvonne

Kaleidiscope Kid

It's Thursday and I have a post to share with you today that I am entering over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  The current challenge is to show a project with a Kaleidiscope of  Colour.  For my card, I worked with images and sentiments from the Secretary Pool and Favorite Book plates by Artistic Outpost.  The sentiment "read" was stamped repeatedly with White Versamagic Ink onto a blue card base.  The frame was stamped onto white card stock with Black StazOn ink.  Layers of Distress Inks in Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick and Broken China were smooshed, one at a time, onto a Craft Mat and sprayed with water.  The frame was dipped in the various colors to create a mottled, colorful background and mounted to the card front, over top a piece of alphabet twill tape.  The sentiment in the middle of the frame was added next.  The little boy, books and pencils were watercolored with a variety of Distress inks and mounted over the frame.  Simple embellishments include a ticket and pen nib from Idea-ology, and chrome liquid pearls.  I think my dear little grandson will be the recipient of this card.  I am attending Grandparents' Day at my grandchildren's school tomorrow and will drop this off to him afterwards as a followup.  I hope wherever you are, it is a good day for you.  Fondly, Yvonne

Treasured Hope

Greetings everyone!  This post is for several challenges.  First, it is for Frilly and Funkie, where the challenge is to create a project using at least two repurposed items.  I began with a white card base and stamped various complimentary stamps from Crafty Individuals using Black StazOn ink to create a pleasing background.  A Cabinet Card was die cut using a repurposed liner from a candy box from this past Christmas and distressed with Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Dusty Concord Distress Inks.  The clip art is from a Miniature Book by Crafty Individuals.  A bit of black netting, which originally encased our Easter ham, was added to give the girl in the photo some added drama.  I added black photo corners to pop the colors of the image.  The sentiment by Stampa Rosa was stamped with White Versamagic Ink onto Black paper and framed with a gifted metal frame.  The chipboard flower was painted with Ranger Picket Fence Crackle Paint and colored with PanPastels.  Black Liquid Pearls create the flower center and offset the cabinet card.  Gold leaves and a seam binding bow complete the card.  This card is also for the PanPastels UK Challenge, which asks that we Add a Flower on our project and for the Simon Says Stamp and Show your Favorite Word - Hope! Thanks for stopping by.  I truly read and treasure every comment left.  Best wishes, Yvonne

Seagulls by the Sea

Happy Friday to everyone! There 's a new challenge over at Bloggers Challenge. This time, the challenge is to create a project that includes birds. I am currently away from home and after digging through my stash, find only these seagulls included in the Beyond the Sea plate by Artistic Outpost to be traveling with me. To create my tag, I began with white card stock. I stamped the light house image with Rich Cocoa Memento ink. The balance of the white card stock was distressed with Tumbled Glass and Antique Linen Distress Ink. I grunged up the edges of the card stock by ripping, tearing and folding portions of the edges. On scrap card stock, I stamped, trimmed and watercolored with various Distress Inks the shell gatherer, and the starfish, crab and shells. Each were then applied to the tag front with dimensionals over top of draped cheesecloth. The sentiment was stamped onto sea foam twill tape and mounted toward the bottom of the tag. Simple embellishments include vintage buttons, Copper Liquid Pearls, a scrap of burlap, and a binder clip by Ideology. I am also entering this tag at Simon Says Stamp and Show where the challenge is to show a tag. I hope each of you has a wonderful weekend. Thanks for dropping by! Yvonne